Monaghan & Rackwallace is the Cathedral Parish of the Diocese of Clogher and it has a population of about 8000 people of which 6956 are Catholic in the 2005 Census.

The name Monaghan derives from the Irish word 'Muineacháin' meaning a thicket or scrubland. Sometimes the word Monaghan is interpreted aptly as 'between the hills' as the town area of Monaghan is located in a hollow surrounded by drumlin hills.

The parish is both urban and rural. The parish is served by St. Macartan's Cathedral, which occupies a prominent position on a hilltop overlooking the town, just off the Dublin Road and St. Joseph's Church which is located in Park Street, 5 minutes walk from the town centre. The rural area of Rackwallace/Ardaghey is served by St. Michael's Church, which is located in the heart of the rural community of Ardaghey, about 5km from Monaghan town.